iOS 8: How to install and use your favorite keyboard app

Apple on Wednesday released iOS 8, which brings many interesting new features to iPhone and iPad owners, including support for third-party keyboard apps, something Android users have been enjoying for years. There already plenty of alternative keyboards in the App Store to Apple’s default (and improved) keyboard in iOS – such as Fleksy, Swype, SwiftKey and many others – and AppleInsider has put up a quick guide on how to enabled them on iOS 8 devices.

Just like with any other apps, getting a third-party keyboard app is done by going to the App Store and grabbing one of the many available options. Once the installation is complete, users will have to perform certain additional steps to actually be able to use the installed keyboard app.

Even though the app will appear on the home screen, users will have to enable it by going to Settings > General > Keyboard. Once there, they’ll have to go to Keyboards and select the “Add New Keyboard” option. The installed keyboard apps will be listed in there, and users will have to check a “Allow Full Access” box for the app to work.

Interestingly, Apple warns users in a prompt message that “full access” means that third-party keyboard apps can collect user data. “”Full access allows the developer of this keyboard to transmit anything you type, including things you have previously typed with this keyboard. This could include sensitive information such as your credit card number or street address,” the message reads.

The final step is performed in any app that requires text input. Once the keyboard pops up, users simply have to press the globe icon (or hold it down) to cycle (or see a list of) third-party keyboards.

Animations showing some of the procedures involved in setting up a third-party keyboard in iOS 8 are available at the source link.